7 Tips to Manage Anxiety

7 Tips to Manage Anxiety

Everyone experiences feelings of stress and anxiousness at times. They may arise when someone is experiencing high levels of stress. Small amounts of nerves and anxiousness can actually improve performance and functioning such as prior to a job interview or performing in a dance show.

BUT for some, anxiety often occurs “out of the blue” without any obvious reason or cause. Anxiety can be a serious condition and cause a person distress; it can impair their relationships and every day functioning.

Here are 7 tips to Manage Anxiety;

1. Support

Create a list of people you can call or message when you are feeling anxious or experiencing an anxiety attack. Discuss your condition with them and ask them if they will be your support system.

2. Journaling

We cannot stress enough how therapeutic journaling is. Write down your anxious thoughts and feelings. Getting them out of your mind and onto paper can reduce anxious feelings.

3. Sleep

Anxiety can lead to depression and influence your day to day moods. Getting enough sleep and taking short naps in the day can help you fight the anxiety.

4. Exercise

The last thing you will feel like is any form of physical activity, BUT it can help reduce stress and anxiety. Find the type of exercise that YOU love and not something you have to do, because you “have to” exercise. Studies show that if you follow an exercise routine that you like, you are more likely to stick with it and to commit.

5. Self-care

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important skills that can help manage anxiety. Eat healthy and whole foods, listen to your body, exercise and get enough sleep. Try meditation, go for a massage, drink herbal teas and try to stay away from coffee. (Let us know in the comments if you would like more tips on self-care.)

6. Breathing

Practice breathing exercises to help slow down your anxious thoughts. Breathing deep and slow brings you back to the present moment.

Breathing Exercise:

Take a deep breath in whilst counting from 1-4

Hold the breath for 4 counts

Release the breath whilst counting 1-4

7. Listen

Listen to your favourite music or podcasts to shift your focus. This will improve your mood and help you relax, it assists in taking away the focus form your anxious feelings. There are many inspiring podcasts and YouTube videos to inspire and motivate, find someone that you resonate with and that inspires YOU.

These 7 tips to manage anxiety can help reduce feelings of anxiety, however it is important to note that anxiety can cause serious impairment in different aspects of life. Please consult a medical professional if you experience high or distressing levels of anxiety.

This article is in no way advice for the treatment of anxiety and/or anxiety disorders or a substitute for professional psychological treatment. It is merely the opinion of the author.